Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes that the Premier League showdown against Manchester City this weekend will not determine this season's champions.

The two sides go head to head with City two points clear of the league holders in the table.

Despite the hype surrounding the fixture, the Red Devils boss believes that it is too early to predict the Premier League winners.

"It is early doors and you can recover," Sky Sports News quotes Ferguson as saying. "There is no doubt about that.

"With our record in the second half of the season, you hope that we will be better."

United host their fierce rivals at Old Trafford this Sunday.